Description James Fraser letter

“My Dear Brother,

I have received your kind and affectionate letter, which informs us of the favourable stat of your own health, and that of your family. You wrote it on the 20 of November last, and came to my hands on the 26^th of March last. In my family my own health is the worst, for I have been troubled for the last two years with the disease called St. Anthonies’ fire, or as the country people say, the Roses. I have four sons and two daughters. The oldest of my sons hath attended all the sessions of the Divinity Hall except one, which he intends to finish the next winter. My second son is learning to be the Farmer; and my two youngest sons are attending their school. Your sister Ann and her family enjoy good health; and reside on the farm of Teapish. Your sister Margaret and her family enjoy good health. They reside behind Creigscorry with a pension of £30 yearly, which with the fruits of their own industry, might well support them. Your sister Christian and her husband Donald McKay live at Torrogormack on a croft of land valued at £4”4 of yearly rent. Your sister Hannah and her husband Robert Fraser live at Cruivend (?). She and her family are not so well provided for as those I have already mention and your toehr sister the widow who is the bearers mother, has had a sober living till now, but being deprived of the Bearer’s assistance, she cannot be so comfortable in future for sometime. So far as I know they enjoy good health in William McLeod’s family at Teagate. All I have here said will be confirmed to you by Mr. William Fraser and the Bearer. We had William Fraser at our house occasionally and you may rest assured that his conduct and behaviour while he remained here was unexceptionally good and agreeable……M.F.

All above is the diction of your sister, my wife; and I hereby join in and agree to all she hath saidl and being unanimously joined by my wife and children, I enjoy great pleasure in being able to send you my best wishes for yourself, your wife, and every branch of your family. And now remain you dutiful brother while Simon Fraser.

Kilmorack Manse

 

7^th May 1834”